After a brief visit to Lebanon lasting several hours, American mediator Amos Hokstein left Lebanon, where he announced from Beirut Airport, "We are making progress in negotiations to reach an agreement that will benefit the Lebanese economy." Hokstein had announced after meeting with President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace that he was "optimistic about reaching an agreement on border demarcation and that there has been progress in this area."
Hokstein arrived at Baabda Palace at 12:20 PM and began his meetings in Lebanon with a session chaired by President Aoun, which included Lebanese Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elias Bou Saab, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants in the caretaker government Dr. Abdullah Bou Habib, former Minister Selim Jreissati, Director General of the Presidency Dr. Antoine Chaqir, Director General of General Security Major General Abbas Ibrahim, and advisors Rafiq Shalala and Osama Khachab.
From the American side, Acting U.S. Ambassador Richard Michaels, Hokstein's senior advisor for maritime boundary negotiations and head of the economic unit in the Near East Bureau Nadine Zaatar, Director for Transnational Affairs for the Middle East and North Africa at the U.S. National Security Council Lindsey Merrill, and Deputy Political Economic Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut Amy Smith were present.
During the meeting, Hokstein presented to President Aoun the results of his communications with the Israeli side and discussed some points related to the negotiations. He listened to Lebanon's perspective on several issues under discussion. After the meeting, Hokstein made a brief statement saying: "It was an excellent meeting, and I believe we made good progress in this regard. I will continue my tour of official officials, and I will provide more information on this topic after completing my meetings. I am grateful to President Aoun for hosting me and for the discussions we had during the meeting and am optimistic about reaching an agreement."
Hokstein also visited caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail, where Bou Saab, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, Dr. Antoine Chaqir, Hokstein's accompanying delegation, and diplomatic advisor to Prime Minister Mikati Ambassador Boutros Asaker participated in the meeting. During this meeting, they discussed the ideas brought by the American envoy, with plans to consult on them and respond to Hokstein shortly, according to Mikati's media office.
Hokstein visited Speaker of the House Nabih Berri at the second presidential headquarters in Ain al-Tineh, attended by Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut Michael Rich. Hokstein presented the results of his tour and what he brought to Lebanon following the recent meeting that included the three presidents in Baabda.
In turn, Berri reiterated Lebanon's commitment to the framework agreement and its determination to invest in its resources throughout its entire exclusive economic zone and its right and sovereignty over it, emphasizing the necessity of returning to Naqoura for indirect negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations and U.S. mediation in accordance with the framework agreement until achieving the desired results.
